Cord chiefs to fight for ticket

Cord co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula were announced as presidential candidates after their parties’ top organs held meetings yesterday.

They will, however, have to fight for the coalition’s ticket with ODM leader Raila Odinga during the opposition’s nominations for the 2017 elections.

At the Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County, the Wiper Democratic Party gave Mr Musyoka the nod for the State House race and mandated its disciplinary team to deal with “Jubilee-inspired” party rebels.

“As Wiper, we have a presidential candidate in the person of Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka,” said Wiper chairman David Musila after a two-day National Executive Council retreat.

“We think we have the best candidate and we have a duty to convince the Cord coalition to back him, but there is a mechanism within the coalition to determine the flag bearer.”

Mr Musyoka said the announcement did not mean the coalition was about to disintegrate.

“For the avoidance of doubt, yes we are running. This country truly needs liberation from the Jubilee misrule.

“We reiterate that nobody should speculate on the possible disintegration of Cord,” said Mr Musyoka.

He steered clear of the issue of errant party members. However, the party passed a resolution mandating its disciplinary committee to deal with the rebels, saying he remained focused and was “undeterred by Jubilee-inspired detractors”.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, the party's secretary-general, said all parties had internal challenges but the retreat was not for discussing individuals.

In a remark apparently directed at Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, he said politicians shedding tears will shed genuine tears in 2017.

“For people to try and box us into the dynamics of one who sheds tears over one or two issues is not for us to get into.

“The tears that will be shed genuinely is when someone will lose the 2017 elections,” he said.

Last weekend, Dr Mutua shed tears when he addressed a rally in his county, saying his critics wanted to bring him down politically because of his work for the people.

None of the Wiper MPs allied to the governor attended the retreat at Maanzoni.

In Nakuru, Ford-Kenya endorsed Mr Wetang’ula, its party leader, as its presidential candidate following a National Executive Council meeting.
Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu said the Bungoma senator had the ability to change Kenya for the better.

“We confirm that Ford-Kenya will offer its party leader as a presidential candidate in 2017.

“He has the ability to save Kenya from her current problems,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula said Cord parties had “internal democracy” and had the mandate to endorse their presidential candidates.